Rizieq Shihab's Confession: I Got COVID-19 At The Airport, Not The Prophet's Birthday

JAKARTA - Rizieq Shihab admitted he was exposed to COVID-19 when he arrived in Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport on November 10, 2020.

This confession was conveyed by Rizieq Shihab when digging information from the former Head of Petamburan Village, Setiyanto, who was presented as a witness in the case of alleged crowds and violations of health protocols (prokes) in Petamburan.

Rizieq Shihab initially alluded to his statement that he was said to have been exposed to COVID-19 after the Prophet's birthday. Even though during the event, Rizieq and several event organizers as well as former FPI officials were on the main stage.

However, not one of them had COVID-19.

"Ustaz Shabri, Ustaz Maman, Ustaz Hari, Ustaz Ali, Ustaz Alaidrus are on the stage together with me, in the center of the crowd, but no money has been affected by COVID-19," Rizieq Shihab said during a trial at the East Jakarta District Court, Thursday , 22 April.

When explaining this, Rizieq Shihab made a confession. He said he was exposed to COVID-19 while at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. At that time, Rizieq Shihab was picked up by thousands of his sympathizers after being in Saudi Arabia for several years.

"I myself caught COVID from the airport, not in Maulid," said Rizieq.

Responding to the statement, Setiyanto said that he had only just learned of being exposed to COVID-19 when he was about to undergo an examination at Polda Metro Jaya.

Because before undergoing a series of examinations, Rizieq Shihab had to do an antigen swab first. However, Setiyanto emphasized that he did not know exactly where and when he was exposed to COVID-19.

"I don't know, because no one has COVID-19 that I touch directly," said Setiyanto

Apart from that, Rizieq Shihab emphasized to Setiyanto that the post-birthday of the Prophet did not lead to the emergence of a new cluster of COVID-19.

"There is no meaningful cluster. The police chief also said that," said Rizieq.

Rizieq Shihab was charged with incitement to the appearance of a crowd at his daughter's wedding as well as commemorating the Prophet's birthday in Petamburan, Central Jakarta. This crowd is taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In this case, Rizieq was charged with violating Article 160 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 93 of Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code and or Article 82 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 59 paragraph 3 letters c and d Law Number 16 of 2017 concerning Community Organization in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 10 letter b of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 35 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.